SPEctra (SPE Career on Track): Developing Essential Skills for Future Leaders

On Saturday, May 4th, 2024, the Science Course Division of SPE ITS SC organized an event titled "Dive into Midstream & Downstream." The event delved deep into two crucial segments of the energy industry which provide participants with valuable insights into their significance, challenges, and innovations.Mr. Dimas Cameeo Wicaksono, Assistant Project Construction at PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, kickstarted the event by shedding light on midstream activities. These activities play a pivotal role in facilitating the interconnectedness of various aspects of the energy industry. Throughout his session, Mr. Dimas covered the transportation, storage, and distribution of oil and gas, the key components of midstream infrastructure, as well as the challenges during the midstream process. He explained the complex network of pipelines, tankers, and terminals that form the infrastructure for transporting hydrocarbons from extraction sites to refineries and distribution centers. Central to midstream operations are the various components of infrastructure that facilitate the processing and transportation of oil and gas. He provided an overview of crucial facilities such as pipelines, compressor stations, storage tanks, and terminals, as well as the protection and supporting facilities in LNG terminal infrastructure. While midstream activities are essential for ensuring the availability of energy resources, they are not without their challenges. Mr. Dimas also shed light on the various issues encountered during the midstream process, such as vandalism/illegal tapping by third parties. Following Dimas's insightful presentation, Mochammad Helmy Aditya, Process Commissioning Engineer at PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan, took the stage to deep dive into the downstream sector. This segment explored the current trends, challenges, and innovations shaping downstream operations. One area of focus lies within the refinery operations, particularly the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) and Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) units. These units are pivotal in the conversion of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks into lighter, higher-value products. Mr. Helmy explained about FCC and RFCC units which are vital components of modern refineries that facilitate the conversion of heavy residual oils and vacuum gas oils into valuable gasoline, diesel, and petrochemical feedstocks. These units employ catalytic cracking processes to break down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more desirable products. He explored the unit integration within FCC-RFCC operations involving complex coordination between various sections, including reaction, separation, treating, and upgrading. Moreover, the quality parameters of feed and product streams in FCC-RFCC operations are critical for ensuring product performance, environmental compliance, and market acceptance. Parameters such as sulfur content, octane number, density, and aromatic content are closely monitored to meet regulatory requirements and customer specifications. For PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional, adherence to stringent quality standards is essential to maintain product integrity and competitiveness in the marketplace.Lastly, Mr. Helmy also highlights the environmental considerations that play a significant role in the operation of FCC-RFCC units, particularly in minimizing emissions, waste generation, and energy consumption. PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional prioritizes environmental stewardship by implementing advanced emission control technologies, optimizing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices throughout its operations.Despite being held online, the event attracted many participants who were eager to expand their knowledge of midstream and downstream operations. Participants enthusiastically engaged with the speakers by actively asking questions and participating in discussions.As the sessions drew to a close, the Research and Information Division conducted a Petroquiz covering the materials and topics presented during the event. The quiz challenged participants' understanding of midstream and downstream concepts which provided an opportunity to reinforce their learning. After an intense competition, Christian Gunawan emerged as the winner who will earn the SPE Knowledgebook as a token of recognition. Written by: Arya Nugraha Aulia Rahman Yusup

On October 25th, 2025, the Society of Petroleum Engineers ITS Student Chapter (SPE ITS SC) successfully held ONG 101, an insightful seminar that brought students closer to the real challenges and opportunities within the oil and gas industry. Held at Teater A, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya, the seminar featured Ir. Zulfikar A. Ali, IPM, Senior Completion and Fracturing Engineer at KUFPEC and ITS Chemical Engineering alumnus, as the keynote speaker. In his opening presentation, Mr. Zulfikar emphasized that safety remains the foremost priority in every stage of oil and gas operations. He explained that the strict regulatory frameworks governing exploration, drilling, and production activities are designed to prevent accidents, mitigate risks associated with H₂S gas exposure, and minimize environmental incidents such as oil spills. According to him, adherence to safety standards is a non-negotiable aspect of engineering professionalism, reflecting the industry's ethical responsibility toward both personnel and the environment. The speaker proceeded to share his personal experiences working across various segments of the oil and gas value chain. He reflected on the challenges and learning processes that shaped his career, encouraging students to pursue their passion with perseverance and integrity. Addressing the growing public perception that the oil and gas industry is a declining sector, Mr. Zulfikar remarked: “Some people say, ‘Oil is running out, why study petroleum engineering?’ But I believe hydrocarbons will still be needed for the next 100 years. Oil and gas will continue to support the world’s energy demand. It will remain part of our journey to achieve global energy targets.” This statement underscored the continuing relevance of Oil and Gas exploration and innovation within the broader context of energy transition and sustainability. While the global energy landscape is shifting toward renewable resources, hydrocarbons will remain essential for industrial processes, petrochemicals, and transitional energy sources in the decades to come. In the technical portion of the session, Mr. Zulfikar elaborated on the cycle of oil and gas operations, covering exploration, drilling, completion, production, and decommissioning. He introduced the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary recovery, in which the industry has now reached tertiary recovery. This emphasizes the importance of continuous innovation to improve recovery efficiency and resource sustainability. He highlighted the necessity of “honoring technology” by embracing advancements that enable engineers to address contemporary challenges such as reservoir depletion, environmental impact reduction, and cost optimization. Topics discussed included offshore exploration wells, structural integrity, station-keeping systems, and drill stem testing all of which require interdisciplinary collaboration and robust engineering design. The seminar’s central theme, well-completion, was explored in depth. Mr. Zulfikar discussed the primary challenges faced by completion engineers, particularly in corrosive well environments, where material selection becomes a critical factor. He also addressed the requirements for materials capable of withstanding the extremely low temperatures associated with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) operations, an emerging field aligned with global decarbonization goals. Various artificial lift systems were introduced as solutions for enhancing production from mature wells. Furthermore, the speaker noted that multilateral well technology, though not yet widely implemented in Indonesia, presents significant opportunities for improving reservoir drainage efficiency. Mr. Zulfikar also explained several methods to mitigate sand production, such as gravel packing and screen design, emphasizing that these practices are vital for maintaining well integrity. He concluded this section by introducing smart well technologies, which enable remote monitoring and control to minimize the need for physical intervention, thereby enhancing both safety and efficiency. Beyond technical competence, Mr. Zulfikar stressed that successful engineering practice in the oil and gas industry depends on effective collaboration among diverse disciplines.  Such multidisciplinary cooperation fosters innovative problem-solving and ensures that complex projects meet both operational and environmental standards. The event’s interactive segments demonstrated the enthusiasm of ITS students. The QnA session featured insightful discussions that reflected participants’ curiosity and critical thinking regarding industry practices. The seminar concluded with a PetroQuiz, in which attendees enthusiastically competed to answer technical questions related to the material presented. This activity effectively reinforced the participants’ understanding while maintaining an engaging atmosphere. Through ONG 101, SPE ITS SC successfully bridged academic learning with real-world industry perspectives. The seminar provided valuable exposure to practical engineering challenges and the evolving dynamics of the global energy sector. By presenting both motivational insights and technical expertise, Ir. Zulfikar A. Ali, IPM, not only broadened the participants’ understanding of well completion and production technologies but also inspired them to uphold professional values of safety, innovation, and collaboration.  Writer: Christya Amanda

The need for effective scientific writing and paper review skills cannot be understated in the digital age, when information is generated at an unprecedented rate. In response to this, The Research and Information Division of SPE ITS SC held a Scientific Writing Mastery event that took place at Menara Sains TW1-301 on Friday, December 1, 2023 from 17.30–21.00. The purpose of the event is to provide participants with an understanding of paper reviews, ethical issues, and scientific writing techniques. Apart from that, a paper review simulation was conducted at the end of the event to increase participants' understanding of the materials presented. Especially for those aiming to succeed in competitions that require paper writing and review.Participants were not only university students, but there were also high school students who participated enthusiastically in the event. “Despite the limited promotion of our event due to unforeseen circumstances, we're pleasantly surprised that it still went smoothly, was well-attended, and received a positive turnout among the participants” said Daffa Hibatullah as the PIC of the event.Gemala Tri Hita Kirana and Valerie Anargya Gayatri,  from Ocean Engineering ITS, as the champions of the PROTECT 2023 paper and poster competition, kicked off the event with insights into the technical aspects of scientific writing and an overview of paper competitions. Their presentations aimed to give the participants a solid grasp of what goes into crafting a good scientific paper. In the end, the speakers also encourage participants to take part in competitions as a means of improving their writing and analytical skills.The guest reviewer of IRRODL (Top 2 Canadian Open Access Education Journals), indexed by Scopus Q1, Aidatul Fitriyah from English Language and Literature Universitas Airlangga, presented the following session and gave an explanation of paper review and conducted a simulation. During her presentation, she not only discussed the academic components of paper reviewing; but also discussed her personal experiences, providing insight into the complexities of evaluating scholarly work for a prestigious journal.A paper review simulation was being conducted to take the learning experience a step further. One of the participant's papers was selected for a real-time review. This hands-on approach allowed participants to see how the principles discussed earlier in the session were applied in practice, the thought process, and attention to detail required for a thorough review. Also to identify strengths & weaknesses and provide constructive reviews for the participant.The event's success highlights the need for increased understanding and proficiency in scientific writing. In an era of rapid knowledge exchange, events such as these are crucial to maintain the quality and integrity of research as the scientific community continues to develop. "Our goal in organizing this event is for participants to improve their writing and research skills, and ultimately making valuable contributions to the advancement of research." ended Daffa.Written By: Arya Nugraha Aulia Rahman Yusup

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), Indonesia's state-owned upstream oil and gas subsidiary, recorded total oil production of 475,000 barrels per day (bopd) through April 2026, a significant drop from the 556,000 bopd achieved across 2025. The company's CEO, Awang Lazuardi, attributed the decline to a combination of domestic operational setbacks and geopolitical turbulence abroad, revealing the breadth of pressures bearing down on Indonesia's largest upstream operator.At home, the most disruptive incident occurred at Blok Rokan in Riau, PHE's single largest producing asset. Early in the year, a gas supply disruption arose after a pipeline integrity failure, specifically a leak in a transmission line operated by Transportasi Gas Indonesia (TGI). The outage lasted more than 20 days, severely curtailing the gas-powered energy supply to production facilities across the block. "Average oil production at Rokan dropped quite sharply," Awang said during a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission XII in late May. Domestic output for the period stood at 367,000 bopd, down from 396,000 bopd in 2025.Further domestic pressure came from Lapangan Banyu Urip, a joint-operated asset with ExxonMobil. PHE encountered facility constraints that limited efforts to ramp up gas production at the field, compounding the output shortfall at a time when the company was already struggling to recover losses at Rokan.On the international front, PHE holds a participating interest in West Qurna-1, an oil field in southern Iraq. Due to force majeure caused by the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the Iraqi government ordered a temporary shutdown of the field. The move cost PHE approximately 100,000 bopd of production. Though operations have since been permitted to resume, output remains at less than ten percent of capacity, allocated solely to meet Iraq's domestic needs, and a full recovery timeline remains uncertain.Together, these disruptions have pushed PHE's total production well below the government's 2026 lifting target of 610,000 bopd set in the state budget. Awang acknowledged the scale of the challenge but pointed to the temporary nature of several setbacks. Industry observers, however, note that structural vulnerabilities including aging infrastructure, geopolitical exposure, and dependence on a small number of high-output blocks continue to pose long-term risks to Indonesia's energy security goals.Written by: Akhirian Taka